Mr. Charles Moser's Obituary
Charles Martel Moser was born July 19, 1931 in Biel, Switzerland to Karl and Louisa Moser. He was named after the brilliant Frankish military strategist and ruler, the great Charles Martel.
Growing up in the small Swiss town of Biel, his childhood years were overshadowed by the dark times brought on by neighboring Nazi-occupied Germany and World War II. A quiet, curious boy who loved to observe the world around him, Charles attended each of the levels of Swiss schooling offered during that era.
In high school, Charles worked part-time at a local jewelry shop as an errand and delivery boy. Following high school, he attended trade school, learning the foundations of the iron works trade, learning welding, ornamental works and lock smithing. Charles completed his required military service for the Swiss Army; then made his way to England to work and learn the English language. Eager to observe more of the world around him, Charles signed on with a shipping organization, becoming a merchant marine. As a merchant marine sailor, he traveled around the world three times, visiting many ports of call, meeting a diversity of people, and most of all, observing a vast array of cultures so different from his own.
Charles emigrated to Canada and then to the U.S., where he met his future wife, Pearl Gilbert in Los Angeles, California. Charles and Pearl married on May 11, 1968. Charles and his family moved to Houston, Texas in 1971, where they settled, and he went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Charles worked at the railroad, keeping the train engines going, for twenty years, retiring in 1993.
Charles loved to read, especially in his native German language and could often be found at the Rice University library, reading from the selection of German works and newspapers that could be found there. He also enjoyed watching the stock market, sometimes following a stock for years before making a small purchase or trade. He was also fond of flowers, chocolate and his dogs.
Charles Martel, the intent observer of life and people, passed away on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Pearl Gilbert Moser; his stepdaughter, Judith Miller Schultz; son-in-law, Kenan Schultz; two grandchildren, Brian Dowd and Shanna Schultz; and one cousin, Regula Hamann.
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